Rotary sheet folder



Oct. 31, 1950 J. E. MEYER Y 7 2,528,159

ROTARY SHEET FOLDER Filed June 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ()gzt. 31, 1950 J. E. MEYER ROTARY SHEET FOLDER Filed June 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 31, 1950 ROTARY SHEET FOLDER Joseph E. Meyer, Westerly, R. I., assignor to C. B.

Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application June 19, 1947, Serial No. 755,621

8 Claims. 1

The object of my invention is to provide a novel high speed sheet folder of the folding roll type, which folder will be especially well adapted for collecting and folding products which are too heavy to be handled properly by high speed folders of the folding jaw type; said folder including means for feeding a web or associated webs into the folder at a predetermined speed, i. e. the speed of the web or webs in passing through the printing press; and means for folding off the sheets at a reduced speed.

My improved folder also includes means, as coacting rotary cylinders for cutting and collecting the sheets at the said press speed andtransferring the collected sheets to a slow speed folding cylinder to be folded off and delivered to the desired location, said cutting, collecting and transferring cylinders having impaling pins for forwarding the sheets from the cutting cylinders to the folding cylinder; and the folding cylinder having sheet grippers for taking and releasing the sheets.

My improved folder also includes means, as a manually adjustable gripper release cam for controlling sheet release timing of the grippers on the folding cylinder to ensure the accurate folding of the sheets by coaction of the tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder, with its pair of folding rolls; said gripper release control means being capable of being operated while the folder is running. a

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a detail front view of the gear side of the folder;

Fig. 2 represents a section taken in the plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 represents a detail vertical cross section through the several cylinders of the folders;

Fig. 4 represents a detail section showing end views of the cutting cylinder, the collecting cylinder and a portion of the transfer cylinder;

Fig. 5 represents a detail section showing an end view of a portion of the transfer cylinder and end views of the folding cylinder, folding rolls and delivery cylinder;

Fig. 6 represents a detail front view of the sheet gripper release control means and Fig. 7 represents a section taken in the plane of the line VII-VII of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type is herein shown as including the following elements:

A pair of web feed rollers I, 2 coact to feed the web or associated webs to the pair of rotary cutters herein shown as cutting cylinders 3, 4'to be cut transversely into sheets by the coaction of the diametrically opposed cutting blades 5, 6 on the cutting cylinder 3, with their cutting blocks I, 8 on the cutting cylinder 4. This cutting cylinder 4 is also provided with two diametrically opposed sets of impaling pins 9, II] for taking the leading end or ends of the web or associated webs and transferring the sheets out therefrom to their respective sets of coacting impaling pins .II, I2

. transferred. by the impaling pins II,I2 to. the

single set of impaling pins I4 on the transfer cylinder I5.

This set of impaling pins I4 on the transfer cylinder I5 is arranged to transfer the collected groups of sheets to the single set of sheet grippers I6 on the slow-down folding cylinder H.

A pressure roller I8 serves to hold the collected groups of sheets of transfer cylinder I5 as the sheets are transferred to the folding cylinder I'I.

The folding cylinder I! is provided with a rotary tucking blade I9 which blade coacts'with a pair of folding rolls 20, 2| to fold the sheets off the folding cylinder when the sheets are released by the grippers I6.

A delivery cylinder 22 is provided with a single set ofgrippers 23 for depositing the folded groups of sheets on to the endless delivery carrier 24. I to be conveyed thereby to a desired point." A fixed three cut-offs of the associated sheets to the the set of grippers IE to take the successive groups of sheets from the set of transfer cylinder impaling pins I4.

A fixed cam 29 is positioned to operate the set of grippers 23 on the delivery cylinder 22 to re- 3 ceive the folded sheets from the folding rolls 20, 2! and deposit the same on the endless delivery carrier 24.

A manually adjustable box cam 30 is provided for controlling the release timing of the set of grippers l6 for ensuring the accurate folding of the collected sheets off the folding cylinder l? by the coaction of the rotary tucking blade 19 with the folding rolls 2!}, 2!. The means for rotatively adjusting the cam 30 while the folder is running, is shown as comprising the following elements: the box cam 30 is provided with an arm 3| provided with pivoted nut 32 for receiving an upright screw 33 journaled in a bracket 34 on the side frame. The lower end of this screw is provided with a bevel gear 35 which meshes with a bevel gear 36 on a horizontal shaft 31, which horizontal shaft may be provided with a suitable hand wheel 38 located in a suitable position for adjusting the cam 30.

The connections between the several cylinders so that the folding cylinder 11 is driven at a reduced speed, in the present instance at two thirds the speed of the web or associated webs as they are fed into the folder, to facilitate the handling and the folding off of the collected sheets, is shown as comprising the following gearing:

The web feed rolls I, 2 are driven at press speed by the meshing gears 48, 4| the connection to the press drive not being shown herein. The cutting cylinder 4, the collecting cylinder 13, and the transfer cylinder are shown as operatively connected by the train of gears 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46. The slow-down folding cylinder I! is shown as driven from the collecting cylinder 13 by the meshing spur gears 49 and 58. The delivery cylinder 22 is shown as driven from the folding cylinder gear 50 by the spur gears 5| and 52. The tucking blade l9 carried by the folding cylinder I! is shown as rotated as usual by aspur gear 53 which meshes with a fixed internal gear 54. The folding rolls 20, 2! may be driven from the folding cylinder I! by theusual gearing, not shown herein. The gears 41 and 48, which are the same size, are used for driving the running cam 2$and the collecting cylinder iii. The gear GT is rotatably mounted on the shaft of the collecting cylinder l3; and the gear 48 is fast on the shaft of the transfer cylinder I5, it being understood that the running cam 26 is fast on the gear 41.

In operation the associated webs are fed to the rotary cutters 3, 4 by the feed rolls l, 2 where the webs are severed transversely by the rotary cutters. The leading edges of the cut sheets are impaled by the impaling pins 9 ll] carried by the rotary cutting cylinder 4 and these sheets are successively transferred to the impaling pins H, [2 of the rotary collecting cylinder 13. Three cut-offs are collected by each set of impaling pins carried by the collecting cylinder 13 and are then transferred successively to the impaling pins M of the transfer cylinder [5. This transfer cylinder I5 then transfers the signatures to the set of sheet grippers IS on the slow-down folding cylinder ll; the pressure roll l8 serving to coact with the transfer cylinder I5 to feed each signa-,

4 the set of grippers I6 is manually adjustable to ensure an accurate fold, by the manipulation of the hand wheel 38 of the box cam 30. This may be done even while the folder is running.

From the above description it will also be noted that the folding-off of the signatures at a reduced speed, in the present instance two thirds the press speed of the associated webs, also permits ample time for said folding operation,

It will be understood that the term rotary cylinder as used herein is intended to include any rotary carrier capable of handling the web or associated webs, the sheets cut therefrom, collected, folded and delivered.

It is evident that various changes may be made in the construction, form and arrangement of the several elements of the machine shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular em bodiment shown and described, but what I claim is:

1. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having impaling pins, means for feeding successive sheets thereto at press speed to be collected into groups thereby, a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the sheet collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed.

2. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having two diametrically opposed sets of impaling pins, means for feedingsuccessive sheets thereto at press speed to be collected into groups thereby, a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having a single setof impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tuckingblade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the sheet collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at two-thirds press speed, the sheet collecting and folding cylinders having a diameter two-thirds that of the transfer cylinder.

3. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a pair of rotary cylinders having coasting devices for cutting a web or associated webs into sheets, one of said cutting cylinders having impaling pins, means for feeding the web or webs to said cutting devices at press speed, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the cutting cylinder impaling pins to collect groups of sheets or associated sheets," a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotar tucking blade carried by-thefolding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for, rotating the sheet cutting, collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed.

4. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type,-a pair of rotary cylinders having two diametrically opposed pairs of coacting devices for cutting a web or associated webs into sheets, one of said cutting cylinders having two diametrically opposed sets of impaling pins, means for feeding the web or webs to said cutting devices at press speed, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having two diametrically opposed sets of im- 6 means, operable while the folder is running, for controlling the release timing of the folding cylinder grippers to ensure the accurate folding of the collected sheets off the folding cylinder.

7. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a pair of rotary cylinders having coacting devices for cutting a web or associated webs into sheets, one of said cutting cylinders having impaling pins, means for feeding the web or webs to said cutting devices at press speed, a

rotary sheet collecting cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the cutting cylinder impaling pins to collect groups of sheets or associpaling pins which coact with their respective sets of cutting cylinder impaling pins to collect groups of three sheets or associated sheets, a r0- tary sheet transfer cylinder having a set of impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the cutting, collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at two-thirds press speed, the sheet cutting, collecting and folding cylinders having a diameter two-thirds that of the transfer cylinder.

5. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having impaling pins, means for feeding successive sheets thereto at press speed to be collected into groups thereby, a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the sheet collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed, and manually operated means for controlling the release timing of the folding cylinder grippers to ensure the accurate folding of the collected sheets off the folding cylinder.

6. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a rotary sheet collecting cylinder having impaling pins, means for feeding successive sheets thereto at press speed to be collected into groups thereby, a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the sheet collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed, and manually operated ated sheets, a rotary sheet transfer cylinder having impaling pins which coact with the collecting cylinder impaling pins to take the collected groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary sheet folding cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact with the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylinder and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets,

and means for rotating the sheet cutting, collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed, and manually operated means for controlling the release timing of the folding cylinder grippers to ensure the accurate folding of the collected sheets off the folding cylinder.

8. In a rotary sheet folder of the folding roll type, a pair of rotary cylinders having coacting devices for cutting a web or associated webs into sheets, one of said cutting cylinders having impaling pins, means for feeding the web 'or webs to said cutting devices at press speed, a rotary cylinder having a set of sheet grippers which coact With the transfer cylinder impaling pins to take successive groups of sheets therefrom, a

rotary tucking blade carried by the folding cylin-' der and a pair of folding rolls coacting with the tucking blade to fold off the groups of sheets, and means for rotating the sheet cutting, collecting and transfer cylinders at press speed and the folding cylinder at a reduced speed, and manually operated means, operable while the folder is running, for controlling the release timing of the folding cylinder grippers to ensure the accurate folding of the collected sheets off the folding cylinder.

JOSEPH E. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Mills et al Nov. 22, 1938 

